Kauai Pickleball Life: Playing In Paradise

Our numbers continue to grow.  A year ago we only had one pickleball venue on the island.  Now, we have eight.  Mainland visitors continue to join us for play.  Enjoying pickleball life on Kauai.  Enjoying pickleball in paradise.  www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com

Enjoying the 'Pickleball Life' on Kauai.

Having Pickleball Fun On Kauai

Our group Pickleball T-shirt.......Kalaheo Pickleball, Island of Kauai.

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Medal Winners 2016 Kauai Senior Olympics Pickleball

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Pickleball Excitement Brewing On Kauai

Finalizing everything for the Aloha State Games Senior Olympics Doubles Pickleball Tournament next weekend (3/11-3/13) on Kauai. Lots of fun work. Our pickleball ohana is ready for their volunteer assignments. 80 teams will be playing for fun....and hardware. This tournament is a qualifier for the National Senior Games.

Kauai Pickleball Round Robin Tournament

Just completed our first ever Pickleball tournament on Kauai. It was a round robin tournament with eight teams each in an 'A' and 'B' bracket. Tourney was a precursor to our Aloha State Games Senior Olympics Pickleball tournament to be held in two weeks. Wanted to give our players a chance to referee matches so they could prepare for the upcoming sanctioned Senior Games.  Fun pickleball day that was followed by a wonderful pot luck luncheon.

Center: Gold-Victor and Sara Betancourt; Left-Silver-Fran Graziano and Tiffany Rae; Right: Bronze-Lucia and Ray Bartels

Center: Gold-Carol Surrat and Wendell Condon; Left-Bronze-David and Theresa Della Lana (daughter Nohea); Right: Silver-Janet Nathanson and Phil Eliana

Kauai Ready For Aloha State Games Senior Olympics Pickleball

Pickleball in Hawaii will be more than evident as the 2016 Aloha State Games Senior Olympics Pickleball tournament will commence on Kauai March 11-13.  The competition will feature men's, women's, and mixed doubles.  82 teams will vie for medals and a chance to compete in the 2017 National Senior Games.

Kauai Pickleball Very Popular

Pickleball continues to grow on the island of Kauai.  The Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Pickleball venue parking lot was full!  82 players for the two sessions.

Kauai Pickleball Celebrates Christmas

Kauai's southside pickleball players gathered at the Hanapepe Tennis Courts this week for some fun Christmas play.  The hub of Kauai pickleball is the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym, but over the Holidays, the youngsters have gym priority, so the pickleball group moves outside for two weeks.  Gym play is normally Tuesday and Thursday.  Outside play is on Fridays.  For these two weeks, play will be T-TH-F.  Mele Kalikimaka.  More info:  www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com

Five Fun Friday Pickleball Facts-Hawaii

Kauai Halloween Pickleball Demonstration Clinic A Big Success

The second Demonstration Pickleball Clinic on Kauai's south side of the island was a big success, with 40 new, interested, players.  A staff of 12 Kauai club players were also on hand to welcome the new players and guide them through a presentation that included rules, scoring, technique, strategy, and court positioning.  State Ambassador Jack Hodges (a resident of Kauai) gave a brief introduction to the game and then turned the instruction over to club players.  The clinic was sponsored by the Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation and was conducted at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym.  Department staff on hand included Cindy Duterte, Melanie Okamoto and James Kealalio.

New Kauai Pickleball Attendance Record

New attendance record today--10/22/15--for our gym pickleball group.  We had 47 players at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym.  Our numbers continue to grow.  Twice last week we had 30+ players and Tuesday of this week...36.

Information On Kauai Senior Olympics Pickleball Tournament

This will be the first ever Senior Olympics Pickleball Tournament on Kauai.  Proceeds go to the Kauai Ho'ohui Recreation Foundation, an organization that works in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation to help promote the involvement of Kauai's people in fun and worthwhile recreational activities and events. 

Kauai To Host 2016 Senior Olympics Pickleball

The Kauai Department of Parks and Recreation has announced that the 2016 Senior Olympics Pickleball Tournament will take place on Kauai at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center in the town of Kalaheo.  The event, part of the Aloha State Games, is scheduled for March 11-13.  The 2016 Senior Olympics Games is a qualifier for the 2017 National Senior Games.  This is an "open" tournament, meaning players may enter from anywhere in the world.  The tournament will be limited to the first 100 entries.  The tournament is USAPA sanctioned.  Players must be a member of the USAPA.  Entry form is available at:  www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com

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Pickleball Visitors To Kauai

26 players today on our four indoor courts at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym. Everyone is improving and it is great to see! We welcomed four new visitors today. L to R: Dianne Detweiler, Bev Rambicure (both from Helendale, CA), Denise Farwell (Minnesota--just moved to Kauai), Rich Valdez (Santa Cruz, CA), Jack Hodges--Kauai Pickleball Ambassador. Join us for free drop-in pickleball if you are planning to visit Kauai.

Pickleball Petroglyph (Pictograph)

This pickleball pictograph shows the grounds of a home on the island of Kauai (in Koloa). Look closely at the lines created by "ancients."  See (barely) the center net line and the no-volley zone lines?  You can almost hear the joy and laughter of a long ago Kauai hui (family and friends) as they played pickleball within the confines of their home.

Alex Hamner and Kauai Pickleball

Four time National Pickleball Champion Alex Hamner attended our drop-in pickleball session today at Kalaheo Neighborhood Center (Kauai).  44 players--including five mainland visitors--were treated to a half hour clinic and then three hours of play.  It was great having Alex give us her insights, watching her play, and listening to suggestions to improve our games.  Many mahalos to a wonderful lady.  Have you seen Alex play live or on video?  More info:  www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com

www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com

National Pickleball Champion Visits Kauai

Four time National Pickleball Champion Alex Hamner will appear at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym (Island of Kauai) to play pickleball and give any interested persons free instruction on one of “America’s Fastest Growing Sports.”  Alex (and her doubles partner Jennifer Lucore) has won more women's doubles tournaments and gold medals than anyone in the 50 year history of this game.  Stop by to hear her words of advice.  Dress to play if you would like.  Equipment provided.  Date: Thursday, Aug. 13th.  Time: 9:00 a.m.

The Origins Of Pickleball

Ever wonder how this amazing game that you love so much got started? Well, don’t miss this episode of I ♥ Pickleball! Pickleball Channel was fortunate enough to go to Bainbridge Island, the birthplace of the sport, to speak with one of the founders of pickleball, Barney McCallum. Join us as we take you back to a rainy island day when the kids had nothing to do, and some charismatic men decided to make up a game! Learn how the founders made up the rules, how it spread off of Bainbridge Island, and how it eventually became the amazing sport we know today.  This is one episode you do not want to miss! Watch it now!

Note:  The picture is a screen shot.  You will have to click "Watch It Now" above.

Pack Your Pickleball Paddle

Still not sure if you want to pack your paddle when visiting Kauai?  This is the core group you will get a chance to play with and against.  We have moved pickleball play back indoors at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center Gym.  This is our first week indoors.  Play will continue in the gym until the end of May.  We also play outdoors at the Hanapepe Tennis Center.  More info:  www.kauaipickleball.shutterfly.com